by Liz McGuire

Created on: June 30, 2007

Whether you want to save on lighting to boost your budget, or to help the environment, the methods are narrowed down to two common sense ideas: use less of it and use what you do need more efficiently.

Using less light around the home takes some planning and, if you really want results, a little remodeling. If you are buying or building a home, start out right from the beginning. The more windows you have in your house, the less daytime electrical lighting you need. In areas that will be dark, insert some skylights. Skylights do not need to be adjacent to the roof any more. You can install flexible ones that will reflect light through the attic and around obstructions. Flexible skylights can be installed as a remodeling project as well.

Pay attention to your lighting concerns when redecorating. Anything that reflects light will reduce the need for electrical lighting. Light colored walls will reflect more. Some paints are available with reflecting agents to make the walls brighter. Using an eggshell paint finish will add slightly to the brightness. Glossy and semi-gloss paint are even brighter. But these should be used in rooms where glare will not be an issue, such as kitchens. Use mirrors to enhance the lighting you do use.

Use efficient electrical lighting, wherever possible. Conventional fluorescent lighting is recommended for non-living space areas such as workshops, closets and pantries. Because of the green tones emitted by these lights, they are not considered flattering and are not a good choice for living areas. For those areas, invest in compact fluorescent lighting. While more expensive to purchase, they use less electricity and last longer than standard light bulbs. And the tone is closer to the common incandescent bulbs.

You do not need maximum brightness in every room all the time. Install dimmer switches in as many rooms as possible. For those foyer chandeliers, unscrew some of the lights. No one will notice and you'll save money. Use low-voltage transformer lighting for those areas where you want to have dim lighting on for long periods of time. Consider what you will use certain areas of your home for, and light them up accordingly. Never use a 100 watt bulb when a 40 will do.

For outdoor lighting, consider solar lights. While earlier models were unreliable, newer versions are more powerful and store energy more efficiently. Also, control your outdoor lighting with timers, or use solar sensors to eliminate the need to remember to turn them off in the morning. Make sure you don't overdo the outside lighting. Too much light draws unwanted insects, such as moths and earwigs.

Perform outdoor tasks before the sun goes down. Work on you car maintenance outside, for instance, instead of a darkened garage.

Even though some of these recommendations save you only pennies, those cents add up. The more changes you make, the more savings you'll experience.

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